Why hire a Professional Photographer?

Your wedding day is a once in a lifetime event.  You have spent countless hours planning your special day.  Once it’s over you will want to savor those memories the rest of your life.  In the end it’s your photos that keep your memories alive. Photography is an investment in your family and your heritage. No one can put a price on that. Keep in mind that the magic of that day can never be recreated. When selecting a wedding photographer you want someone who knows how to translate the excitement and emotions of the day into photographs. 

How do I find the right wedding photographer?

You should choose a wedding photographer based on several considerations.  First, of course, you must love his or her work.  Look for a photographer whose work moves you, whose style you love, and who tells a story the way you want your story to be told.  If you don’t love the pictures, nothing else matters.  The second factor to consider is personality.  Since your wedding photographer will be with you and your fiancé for a significant portion of your wedding day, and you will have close dealings with him or her both before and after the wedding, you need to make sure that you feel comfortable with this individual.  One way to gauge this is to ask yourself: “Would my fiancé and I be friends with this photographer even if we weren’t getting married?” If the answer to this question is “yes,” then you are that much closer to hiring the right wedding photographer for you.

What is a proof?

A proof is the first set of photos you see after the wedding!  You’ll look at all of your proofs to choose the final prints for your album as well as your reprint orders.  Some of the ways photographers provide proofs to clients include: an online website, a DVD of computer screen images, or 4×6 inch photo prints.  Printed proofs may also come in the form of a contact sheet, which is a catalog of approximately 12 images on a page.  Be sure to ask your photographer exactly what type of proofing he or she offers.  Typically, proofs only have basic color correction or exposure adjustments made to them, with no specific retouching or other finishing techniques applied.  Some wedding photographers may add a logo and/or copyright information to their proofs, to discourage clients from making copies of what is considered an unfinished product.

 Why will our wedding photographer copyright the pictures he takes at our wedding?

In the field of wedding photography, copyright is a form of legal protection that wedding photographers have on their images, layouts, designs and other artistic works.  This protection grants them the exclusive right to reproduce or display their images, or authorize others to do so. A photographer is granted copyright at the time the product is created.  Copyright does not need to be claimed or registered to belong to the photographer, nor does a notice of copyright need to be present for copyright to be in effect.  Copyright is in effect for 70 years after the life of the author (in this case, the photographer).  It’s illegal to violate any of the rights held by the owner of the copyright.  It’s not necessary to obtain a transfer of the copyright to reproduce the images; a reproduction release will serve this purpose.  Transfer and reproduction releases need to be put in writing and signed by the photographer. For more information on copyright, visit www.copyright.gov.

It is most important that you discuss photo reproduction policies with your wedding photographer before signing a contract, as they differ widely.

 Will the wedding photographer we want to hire hold our date or call us if someone else requests that date?

Although the exact policy may differ from wedding photographer to wedding photographer, many of them will require a non-refundable retainer and a signed contract to hold your date.  This benefits both you and the wedding photographer: You benefit by securing a wedding photographer who has now set aside your wedding date, is contracted to provide services to you, and will not entertain inquiries from other parties for the same date.  The wedding photographer benefits by obtaining the guarantee to work and receive payment for his or her services.  It’s always in your best interest to book your wedding photographer as soon as you have chosen one whose work you love.

 Should we see each other before the ceremony?

 The most important images of your wedding day are the Romantics.  These are the dramatic and poignant moments of your day that you will want preserved in your album; images of just the two of you capturing the romance and love between you both.  The Romantics are the most fun of the day because that is when you actually get to spend time alone together enjoying your wedding day. Your photographer orchestrates your first meeting in such a way that it is captured from every angle. From there your photographer allows you to be alone and savor your wedding day together without the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations and family coming in and out. Your photographer will ensure that you spend time together away from all the preparations for that all important alone time and capture it in print.  Once the ceremony is over it can be difficult to get away from streams of family and guests wanting to congratulate the couple and often the bride and groom are so busy they never have a chance to just sit back and enjoy their day together unhurried.

For more information regarding your wedding contact Desiree directly at (818) 585-1621